The mountains from Arashiyama to Kameoka have some of the most spectacular scenery in Kyoto. To adore the scenery that change each season, the best seats are provided by Sagano Scenic Railway (嵯峨野観光鉄道). The company’s Sagano Romantic Train runs along the Hozu River (保津川), which flows through the scenic Hozu Gorge (保津峡). Especially during the cherry blossom and the autumn foliage seasons, the train ride will be one of the most memorable part of your trip!
Table of Contents
- How to Get to the Stations on Sagano Scenic Railway
- Explore the Sagano/Arashiyama Area With a Guide
- The Best Carriage of Sagano Scenic Railway
- Hozukyō Torokko Station (トロッコ保津峡駅)
- Cherry Blossom and Autumn Foliage along Sagano Scenic Railway
- Are Reservations Required for Sagano Scenic Railway?
- Which Side of the Train Should I Sit on?
- Can I Bring Large Suitcases onto Sagano Romantic Train
- Explore the Sagano/Arashiyama Area With a Guide
Tip: Because the train conductor only speaks Japanese on the train, scan the train guide’s QR code for Sagano Scenic Rail’s audio guide. You should find it at Sagano Scenic Railway’s stations. It comes in four languages, Japanese, English, Chinese, and Korean.
How to Get to the Stations on Sagano Scenic Railway
From Kyoto Station, the fastest way get to the Sagano Scenic Railway’s train stations in Arashiyama is by taking JR’s rapid trains. It will only take you 11 minutes to get to JR Saga Arashiyama Station (嵯峨嵐山駅). You can also take the local trains. It will just take you a little bit longer but less than 20 minutes.
After getting out of JR Saga Arashiyama Station’s ticket gates, head left and take the escalator down to the ground level. Sagano Scenic Railway’s Saga Torokko Station (トロッコ嵯峨駅) will be on your right as shown in the IG post. If you are unsure, the direction signs are hung from the ceiling (refer to the 2nd to the 4th photos in the IG post). Or, just follow the crowd.
Tip: If you have extra belongings you don’t want to carry around, there are coin-operated lockers close to the 7-11 at JR Saga-Arashiyama Station’s 2nd floor.
On the other hand, if you are coming from the other side of the prefecture, boarding the train from Kameoka Torokko Station (トロッコ亀岡駅) is a better choice.
To get to Kameoka Torokko Station, you just need to get off at JR Umahori Station (馬堀駅) on the San-in Main Line. From there, it will just be a 5 to 10-minute walk.
Tip: If you plan to visit the area around Togetsukyo Bridge (渡月橋), get off at Torokko Saga Station (トロッコ嵐山駅). The station is at the end of Arashiyama’s bamboo grove.
The Best Carriage of Sagano Scenic Railway
All Sagano Romantic Train has five carriages. When the weather is good, the best carriage to be in during the scenic ride is carriage no. 5, called the Rich (ザ. リッチ). The only open-air carriage allows you to snap photos of the magnificent scenery in front of you without any unpleasant window glares.
A small extra benefit of boarding the Rich is the slight excitement you might get when the train is inside a tunnel. With the surroundings covered in darkness, it will feel like you are on an expedition (´▽｀*)
But, while you enjoy the refreshing breeze and natural light in carriage no. 5, it may not be a pleasant trip on a rainy day. Moreover, it is extra cold from mid-November to February on this carriage. Thus, consider your circumstances before purchasing or reserving your tickets.
Tip: If you want to board the Rich from mid-autumn to early spring, warm clothes are recommended. Without the window, the cold wind blows directly on you.
Hozukyō Torokko Station (トロッコ保津峡駅)
As the train approaches Hozukyō Torokko Station, get your camera ready for the cute raccoon dog statues on the platform. These statues are Shigaraki ware (信楽焼), which is a famous specialty of the Kōka City in Shiga Prefecture nearby.
The station is situated on a bridge because it is sandwiched between tunnels.
From Hozukyō Torokko Station to Kameoka Torokko Station, you might have many opportunities to spot the sightseeing boats going down the Hozu River. If the people on the boats notice you too, how about saying hi to them with a big wave (^_-)-☆?
The Cherry Blossom and Autumn Foliage Along Sagano Scenic Railway
- The cherry blossoms along the Sagano Scenic Railway usually peak from early to mid-April.
- The autumn foliage season along the Sagano Scenic Railway is usually from mid-November to early December.
- As the day gets darker, the maple trees close to the rail track will be lit up.
- In 2024, the nighttime Sagano Romantic Train ran from the 12th of October to the 29th of December.
Are Reservations Required for Sagano Romantic Train?
While reserving your seats to board the train isn’t essential, it is a very popular train line, especially during the cherry blossom and fall foliage seasons. The seats can be booked out quickly, so it is definitely recommended that you reserve your tickets if you visit during the peak seasons.
Reservations are open at 12 am one month before the boarding date via Sagano Romantic Train’s website HERE at 12 am Japan time a month in advance. The tickets of the first train of the day during the cherry blossom and autumn foliage seasons can be gone within minutes.
On the day, simply show the QR code which can be found in the member’s area of the Official Website that you would have registered.
You can pre-purchase the ticket through klook. Simply open the link on your voucher and present it to the station staff when you board the train.
Important: You can change your reserved seat up to three times by the day before the boarding date. If you need to change the date or the train you want to take, you need to cancel your booking and reserve again. Note that free cancellation is only available by the day before boarding.
If all the advanced tickets are booked out, you can try your luck on the day for the same-day ticket. The same-day ticket is on sale from around:
- 8:35 am at Torokko Saga Station
- 8:50 am at Torokko Arashiyama Station
- 9:10 am at Kameoka Station
Tip: You can also book a tour that includes the Sagano Scenic Railway. Book the tour with Viator or Klook!
Which Side of Sagano Romantic Train Should I Sit on?
This question is probably not so important if you plan to make a round trip on the Sagano Romantic Train. You can simply sit on one side of the train for one journey and the other on the way back.
However, if you are taking a one-way trip, here are the sort of views that you can expect on each side of the train.
- From Arashiyama to Kameoka:
- The left-hand side during the first 1/4 of the journey has a better view, with Hozugawa Valley on your left.
- The right-hand side during the 3/4 of the remaining trip has a better view, with Hozugawa Valley on your right.
- From Kameoka to Arashiyama: It is the other way around.
Important: Note all the seats are box seats for 4 people. This means that half of the seats face in the opposite direction of travel.
Tip: If you want a seat with the best view and faces the direction of travel, choose seat D with an even number if you plan to travel to Kameoka. If you plan to travel to Arashiyama/Sagano, choose seat A with an even number.
Can I Bring Large Suitcases Onto Sagano Romantic Train
You can bring large suitcases onto the Sagano Romantic Train. But you need to pay to do so. On the day, please head to the ticket office and let the staff know you have a large suitcase you want to bring on board. The staff will issue you a separate ticket for the suitcase. You can refer to the IG post for an idea of what the ticket looks like. We paid 260 yen for ours.
Because it is rare for passengers to do so, the staff at the platform may not know what to do. All you need to do is get on the train early and put your luggage behind the first or the last row.
The end of one side of the carriage is designated for those without a reserved seat ticket. The area is marked in blue and has the words “立席” written and images of people standing drawn. You can refer to the 2nd photo in the IG post for an idea of what it looks like. The unreserved seat tickets are on sale on the day at the station.
Please put your large belongings on the other end of the carriage where the floor isn’t marked. You can refer to the last photo in the IG post.
Important:
☛ If you have large suitcases, get on the train as early as possible so you have enough time to settle your belongings.
☛ You can also bring a foldable pram. But bicycles are not allowed.
Explore the Sagano/Arashiyama Area With a Guide
If you prefer to be guided when you visit the Sagano/Arashiyama Area, consider booking one of the tours below!
- Kyoto Sagano Bamboo Grove & Arashiyama Walking Tour
- Kyoto Rickshaw Tour
- Private Walking Tour in Bamboo Forest & Hidden Spots in Arashiyama
- Kyoto Sagano Romantic Train, Arashiyama, and Kiyomizudera Half-Day Tour in Kyoto
- Arashiyama Morning Walking Tour with Sagano Romantic Train in Kyoto
Discover Kameoka City – Just a Train Ride Away from Aarashiyama
Arashiyama in Kyoto is one of the most popular destinations in the prefecture. After taking the Sagano Romantic Train, take a JR train to Kameoka.
Kameoka City’s scenery is as amazing as what you can get in Arashiyama, if not better. And the best thing is, it is only half as crowded!
For more information about the city, please refer to our Kameoka City article (=ﾟωﾟ)ﾉ.
I love the Sagano ride. I remember seeing a resort/hotel of some sort nestled in the mountain while on the ride. Can someone please tell me the name of this resort?